the students from more than 50
universities are taking part in a rent
strike in protest at how the pandemic
has affected their studies
many courses of course have moved to
remote learning which has caused some
students to go back home and
with mental health also a big concern
the higher education regulator is
calling for more
financial and emotional support for
students adina campbell reports
a lonely figure in one of the uk's
largest cities
life in sheffield for third-year student
harry smith
isn't what it used to be stuck in doors
in a tiny room
he's one of a handful of people left in
this block of flats
normally home to hundreds his only
contact with the outside world
working part-time at the local
supermarkets
i've told my university many times you
should have told us to stay at home
and do a virtual degree they would have
saved five thousand pounds for me on
rent
it would have saved coming here
switching jobs
ruining my mental health that sort of
thing but i think now
i think someone needs to step in the
government the accommodation themselves
with the university
to sort of alleviate these contracts
that we're tied up to sheffield hallam
university says it quickly communicated
that teaching would be online
until the end of february and has
prioritized mental health support
harry has just about managed to pay his
rent for the next few months
but others are choosing not to and are
taking part
in a rent strike campaign at more than
50 universities in the uk
the department of education and
governments in scotland wales and
northern ireland
say millions of pounds has been made
available to help those experiencing
financial difficulties
as well as funding for better access to
online learning
but some have reached breaking point
reece
not his real name decided to drop out of
his first year at university
after just six weeks before christmas
i've been seeing uh counsellors really
at the moment since i've dropped out
it's
pretty much rotting where i stand really
it's i haven't been i haven't had the
motivation to do anything
else or find anything else one of the
most painfully lonely experiences i've
ever had
remote learning is now the everyday
reality for people like harry
with just a few months left until he
graduates the end of his degree
couldn't come soon enough adina campbell
bbc news
in sheffield